Dubai-based travel app Wego has partnered with Saudi Arabia‘s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to launch a digital platform that integrates flights, hotels, ground services, and Umrah visa requests for pilgrims worldwide, the company said on June 22.
The tie-up points to Saudi Arabia’s push to digitise the pilgrimage experience and grow its Umrah sector, a central plank of its tourism diversification drive, by pairing the kingdom’s licensed operators with one of the region’s largest online travel marketplaces.
Through a single flow, travellers can access flight bookings, verified hotel bookings, licensed ground services and facilitated Umrah visa request submissions, the company said. All visa issuance is conducted by the relevant Saudi authorities, and transactions are processed in Saudi riyals at the time of booking.
Wego, which describes itself as the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), will manage marketing, sales, and customer transactions, while licensed Umrah service providers will deliver on-the-ground services. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plays a regulatory and supervisory role.
“By integrating flights, facilitated visa request processes, verified accommodations, and licensed ground services into one unified platform, we are enhancing the overall pilgrim experience while creating new growth opportunities for Umrah service providers across Saudi Arabia,” said Mamoun Hmidan, chief business officer at Wego.
The platform offers three service tiers: an Essential level with airport reception and on-ground support, a Standard level adding intercity transport between Makkah and Madinah, and a Premium level with private transfers, curated sightseeing and round-the-clock support.
It also incorporates consumer protection policies including flexible booking modifications and refund eligibility under defined conditions, alongside multilingual support, the company said.
The platform at wego.com/umrah will be ready for launch in June, aligning with the start of the Umrah season. Founded in Singapore in 2005 and now dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai, Wego is backed by Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group and Arqaam Capital.